Step-tread.



J. F.CLARKE. STEP MAD. APPLICATION ElLED IULY 3,1915.r

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

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To allchant t concern.' f A Be it known that I, JAMES F. CLARKE,

citiaeiiof the Uni-ted States, residing atLos Angeles, in the coun ry of Los Al-rngeles and State offfCaliforniaJiave linvented new and usefulA Improvements in- Stgp-Treads, of" which the following is aspeciiication. 4

Thisinvention relates to step treads, and pertainsV especially tio-"step treads for fvehicles, such as street ca rsl,V

It is an object of this invention Vt provide a step tread which is non-slipping,l self cleaning and Vwhich is strong and durable.

It is another object of this invention to providea step tread comprised of a plurality of tread pieces having a serrated tread surface. and vwhich are removable and inter-.v changeable; Y' 1 `i i It is a further objecty to provide a means for supporting and Yconnecting the vtread pieces whereby they may zbe easily removed orinterchanged.

' 1 The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i y

VFigure l is a perspective View vo'f-a car platform showing the improved tread apflange 8 on the long sides of the frame. The

flange 8 is for the purpose of supportingy the tread pieces. Apertures 10 are formed in the long sides of the frame for the purpose of receiving bolts 11. The latter serve to strengthen and assist to support the tread pieces. Apertures 12 are formed in the short sides of the frame for receiving bolts 18 which are designed to secure in place the tread pieces and assist in supporting them.

Tread pieces 1li are formed withl serrated upper. surfaces 15 and have their sides 16 and 17 convergingdownwardly to form a taper. Each tread piece is formed with bosses 18 and 19 on opposite'sides in alinement with the apertures l2.

apertured as indicated at 20, the apertures The bosses are registering with the apertures 12 in the frame, so that when the tread pieces are as- Fig. v2 is a .fragmentary plan .miens ei-mmm, or Los ANGELES; eALrronivin.

theregisteringapertures 2Q in each ofthe tiead'fpieces, therebysecuring them in position. :The

which dirt=in ayfpass..l i Y y bossessepara'te the'tlfad pieces and; provide spaces therebetween through seinbledithe-bolts maybe passed through) i 4 Y Y' The tread 1 pieces' which` are: disposed 'adj a-` cent .to and parallel'withpthe boltstil lli`av 'e i one bossofsuch lengtli'f ask indicated at 19 that a .tief member .2L-which 'is tween the boss 19 and the adjacent boss 18. Bolt'll is passed through vthe lower washer t vpreerablyv i eomplrised'of two integral washerswith their `Plmesflt Tight llgleS, maybe inserted beportion of the tie member 21, thereby tying the bolts 11 and 12 and forming a secure flanges .8.

. It will be evident that the step tread is easily assembled by'placing'the tread pieces upon-the frame 7 and inserting the bolts 12;

tie'members 21 being insertedv at the places adjacent the position' for bolts l1. Bolts 11 are then inserted through the tie members andthe nuts or bolts 13 and lltightened. The structure is such that any tread piece may be easily removed and a new one substituted.

An important `feature of my invention 'is thetransversely tapered tread piece whereby the space between tread pieces is greater at the bottom than at the top. By reasonv of this construction dirt which would pack between the tread pieces in structures ofthis character which have heretofore been built,

passes readily downwardly making the step self cleaning. Y

What I claimis: Y 1. A step tread,.comprising a' framehaving a plurality of oppositely disposed rod receivingr openings, rods passing through said openings V4and' extending longitudinally across said' frame, andv a series of transverselyY tapered tread members having apertured hubs engaged by said rods.

2. A step tread, comprising a frame having a plurality of oppositely disposed rod receiving openings, V rods passing through said openings Yand extending longitudinally across saidjframe, rods vextending transversely of said frame, removable tie. members securing thelongitudinal and transverse rods, and aseries of removable tread members supported on said frame having apertured hubs engaged by said longitudinal rodsi supportA for the tread pieces between thel 3. Astep tread, comprising a frame having a plurality of oppositely disposed bolt receiving openings, bolts passing through said openings and extending longitudinally across said frame, bolts extending transversely of said frame, removable tie mem- Y bers securing the longitudinal and transverse bolts, and a series of transversely tapered removable tread members having apertured hubs engaged by said longitudinal bolts. A

4. A step tread, comprising a rectangular frame, a plurality of transversely tapered tread members formed with serrated upper edges, spacing hubs formed on opposite sides of the tread members having apertures therein, and bolts passing through said aperi tured hubs and through the end members of Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the the frame to secure the tread members and the frame together.

5. A step tread, comprising a rectangular frame provided With an interior iange, plurality of transversely tapered tread members resting upon said flange, spacing hubs formed on opposite sides oIP the tread members having apertures therein, bolts passing through said apertured hubs and through the end members of the frame, bolts passing through said frame transverse to said first named bolts and tie members securing said first named bolts and said transverse bolts.

In Witness that claimthe foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my name this 7th day of June, 1915. f v

JAMES, r. CLARKE.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

